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Environment Law — Environmental Clearance — Prior clearance — Mandatory character — Prior environmental clearance under EIA Notification, 2006 is mandatory, being founded on the precautionary principle and couched in imperative terms — Word “prior” and the graded four-stage screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal process render an anterior assessment the sine qua non of the clearance regime — Decriminalisation of contraventions under Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 does not alter this mandatory character. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 — Section 415 — Appeal — Maintainability — Conviction recorded for first time by appellate court reversing acquittal — An appeal under Section 374 CrPC (Section 415 BNSS) is not maintainable against a judgment of conviction recorded by a Sessions Court while exercising appellate jurisdiction and reversing an order of acquittal passed by the Trial Court — No such second appeal is contemplated under CrPC or BNSS — The only remedy available is revision under Section 397 r/w 401 CrPC (Section 438 r/w 442 BNSS) Income Tax Act, 1961 — Section 44B — “Carriage” of passengers — Meaning and scope of — Cruise operations by non-resident shipping entity — Held, the word “carriage” under Section 44B cannot be restrictively construed to mean movement only from Port A to Port B. A round-trip cruise voyage, where passengers have the option to disembark at intermediate ports without compulsion to return to the originating port, constitutes carriage of passengers within the meaning of Section 44B. Provision of incidental on-board entertainment and hospitality does not alter the essential character of the activity as carriage of passengers. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC) — Section 482 — Quashing of FIR — Scope of inquiry — Mini-trial impermissible — At the stage of considering quashing of an FIR, the Court’s inquiry is confined to whether the allegations, taken at face value, prima facie disclose commission of a cognizable offence — Court cannot conduct a “mini-trial” by sifting evidence, assessing probabilities, or evaluating witness credibility — High Court exceeding these limits by examining trap proceedings, absence of personal recovery, and departmental enquiry findings, held impermissible. Succession Act, 1925 — Sections 33, 35 and 38 — Hindu/Christian Succession — Applicability of S. 33 confined to property owned by deceased male; erroneous application by High Court set aside — Where property was purchased and registered in the joint names of two wives, the same is owned by them and not by the husband, notwithstanding that he provided the consideration — Section 33, which governs devolution on intestacy of a male’s property between his widow and lineal descendants, is not attracted to property never vested in the husband’s name — High Court’s application of S. 33 to the entirety of the suit property held misconceived.
Service Matters

Court finds lapses in the medical diagnosis and treatment, noting the absence of a neurologist’s examination and the disregard for the appellant’s CD4 cell count – The court criticizes the respondents’ apathetic attitude and the discriminatory policy against HIV+ individuals, highlighting the appellant’s survival without anti-retroviral therapy – The court awards compensation for wrongful termination, leave encashment dues, non-reimbursement of medical expenses, and social stigma, along with pension entitlements as if the appellant had retired in service.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SATYANAND SINGH — Appellant Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, JJ. ) Civil Appeal…

Words and Phrases – “Rurban” – The term “Rurban” is a blend of the words “rural” and “urban.” – It refers to areas that exhibit characteristics of both rural and urban environments – These regions often combine elements of agriculture, small-scale industry, and limited urban infrastructure – The concept of “Rurban” aims to bridge the gap between rural and urban development, fostering sustainable growth and improving the quality of life for residents.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH TAPAS KUMAR DAS — Appellant Vs. HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Dipankar Datta and Sanjay Kumar, JJ. )…

Information Technology Act, 2000 – Sections 67 and 67A – The appellants, involved in the creation of the web-series ‘College Romance,’ are accused of publishing obscene content under Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, leading to an FIR against them – “FIR Quashed, Content Upheld: Supreme Court Rejects Charges Against “College Romance” webseries for Vulgarity”

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH APOORVA ARORA AND ANOTHER ETC — Appellant Vs. STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) AND ANOTHER. — Respondent ( Before : A.S. Bopanna and…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Sections 153A, 500, 501, 504, 34 and 120B – Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace – – The primary issue is whether the allegations in the FIR disclose any cognizable offence justifying the continuation of the investigation – The Court refers to precedents to determine the absence of necessary ingredients for the alleged offences and the applicability of the principles for quashing criminal proceedings – The Court quashes the FIR and all proceedings against the appellant, citing the absence of necessary ingredients for the cognizable offences alleged.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH SHIV PRASAD SEMWAL — Appellant Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, JJ. ) Criminal…

“Arbitration Clause Dispute Settled: Supreme Court Rules Against Appointing Sole Arbitrator in Weir Construction Contract” – The Court analyzed the applicability of the arbitration clause and found that a general reference to the tender documents does not incorporate the arbitration clause into the contract – The Court discussed the conditions under which an arbitration clause from one document can be incorporated into another contract, emphasizing the need for a specific reference to the arbitration clause – The Court concluded that the arbitration clause does not apply to the contract between NBCC and Zillion and set aside the High Court’s orders, directing that disputes be resolved through civil courts in Delhi.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH NBCC (INDIA) LIMITED — Appellant Vs. ZILLION INFRA PROJECTS PVT. LTD. — Respondent ( Before : B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, JJ. ) Civil…

Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) – Section 109 – Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 – Sections 13(1)(e) and 13(2) – The court found that the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s orders are not conclusive for the criminal case and that a full trial is necessary to evaluate the evidence – The court analyzed precedents and laws, concluding that findings in tax proceedings do not automatically negate criminal charges for disproportionate assets – The court upheld the charges, stating that the appellants did not provide sufficient grounds to interfere with the order on charge and the framing of charges.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH PUNEET SABHARWAL AND OTHER — Appellant Vs. CBI — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and K.V. Viswanathan, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No. ….of…

“Family Feud Over Property: Kamla Nagar Goes to One Side, Malcha Marg to the Other” – The court analyzed the Registration Act’s requirements for documenting transfers of property rights and concluded that the lack of registration indicated no settlement existed – The Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s judgment regarding the Kamla Nagar property, restoring the Trial Court’s decision and confirming the appellants’ sole ownership – The decision regarding the Malcha Marg property was upheld, leaving it exclusively to the respondents.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH JUGAL KISHORE KHANNA(D) THR LRS AND ANOTHER — Appellant Vs. SUDHIR KHANNA AND OTHERS — Respondent ( Before : Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah,…

Property Dispute – The case involves disputes over property ownership after the original owner, ‘S’, passed away in 1947 – The Court found no foundation for the plea of adverse possession in the plaintiff’s claim, as the necessary facts were not adequately pleaded or proved – The appeals were dismissed, with the Court upholding the original decrees and granting the appellant time until March 31, 2025, to vacate the property, subject to certain conditions.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DIVISION BENCH M. RADHESHYAMLAL — Appellant Vs. V SANDHYA AND ANOTHER ETC. — Respondent ( Before : Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, JJ. ) Civil…

Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 354D, 376(2)(n), 504 and 506 read with 34 – Supreme Court found inconsistencies in the appellant’s statements and lack of evidence for the alleged forced abortion at Nursing Home – The Court referenced previous judgments to establish that consent vitiated by a false promise of marriage does not constitute rape under Section 375 of IPC unless the promise was proven to be false at inception – The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, agreeing with the High Court that continuing the proceedings would be an abuse of the legal process and result in miscarriage of justice.

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA FULL BENCH MS. X — Appellant Vs. MR. A AND OTHERS ( Before : B.R. Gavai, Rajesh Bindal and Sandeep Mehta, JJ. ) Criminal Appeal No……of…

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